Umbrella-runner



(No Model.)

J. F. MASON.

UMBRBLLA RUNNER.

No. 482,130. Patented Sept. l6, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT Erica p .IABEZ F. MASON, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

UMBRELLA-RUNNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,130, dated September 6, 1892.

Application filed November 3, 1891. Serial No. 410,712. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JABEZ F. MASON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Umbrella- Runners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to improvements in that class of devices known as umbrella-runners; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of the holding-spring of the runner, whereby said runner may be readily held firmly in place after being adjusted, all as will be hereinafter fully` explained, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

It is desirable in umbrella-runners that the catch or holder shall operate when the um'- brella is spread or distended for holding the Same open and that the runner shall be held when the umbrella is closed, in order that the umbrella may not open accidently while being held in the hand.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation representing the improved umbrella-runner. Fig. 2 is a section at the line X X of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is an elevation of the runner in the position when the umbrella is closed.

The tubular runnerA is to be of a size adapted to move freely upon the stick B, and it is provided with the notched lianges or crown 2, adapted to the reception of the ends of the stretchers, as usual. The spring D is permanently attached at the end 4 to the umbrella-runner, preferably upon one of the notched iianges, and at the moving end of the lever-Spring is a pin or claW'S, passing through a hole in the tubular part of the runner and into the hole 4 when the umbrella is open or distended or into the hole 5 when the umbrella is closed, these holes being bored in the stick B in the proper positions. The lever-spring D rests upon a fulcrum at 6, formed of a bend in the spring that rests against the outer surface of. the runner A. Hence when the ithumb or finger is pressed upon the portion 7 of the spring D to force the same toward the runner the bend 6 becomes a fulcrum and the claw or pin 3 is moved out of the hole into which it may have sprung, and the runner is free to be moved in either direction, and when the runner reaches its extreme position with the umbrella open or shut the spring of the lever throws the claw into the hole provided for it.

It is advantageous to make the point of theclaw or pin slightly hook-shaped, as rep` resented, in order that the same may catch against the wood and prevent the pull of the umbrella as the same is carried in the hand in the closed condition drawing the pin out of the hole, especially in view of the fact that this pin or claw should have a slight down- Ward inclination, as represented, so that when the umbrella is held up in the position of use the pressure upon the umbrella tending to close the same will not act to withdraw the pin from the hole, but, on the contrary, the tendency will be to force the end of the lever-spring tightly against the exterior surface of the runner, the inclined pin acting as a claw to run into the Wood.

When the umbrella is being carried in the closed condition, it is often subjected to a longitudinal strain that might tend to injure the claw of the spring, and as an additional precaution I cut an L-shaped or bayonet notch or slot lO in the cylindrical portion of the runner and introduce a pin ll into the handle. The position of this pin in relation to the hole 5 is such that when the claw or pin 3 is in the hole 5 the pin 1l will be in the peripheral portion of the L-shaped slot, as indicated in Fig. 3, and hence when the runner is to be liberated the lever-spring D is acted upon to withdraw the pin or claw 3, and then a partial rotation of the handle within the runner is given for moving the pin 11 along the peripheral portion of the L-shaped slot until such pin arrives at the longitudinal portion of such slot, after which the runner can be moved to open or spread the umbrella, and when the umbrella is being closed the opposite movement is to be given to the parts. Hence the longitudinal strain upon the runner when the umbrella is closed will be taken principally upon the pin 11 and the metal of the runner adjacent to the slot 10.

I am aware that prior to my invention spring-catches have been used for umbrellarunners, and therefore I do not claim such a devicebroadly; but

I claim as my invention- The within-described improved umbrella- IOO causes the free end thereof to disengage with 1:

the holes 4 and 5 in the staff B, all as shown and described.

Signed by me this 30th day of October, 1891.

JABEZ F. MASON. Witnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, WILLIAM G. MOTT. 

